Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

state government

Jan 27, 2021

COVID-19 workplace safety, health rules become permanent Wednesday

Permanent COVID-19 workplace safety and health rules take effect Wednesday in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced, including standards that require all public-facing employees to wear masks as well as requiring businesses to provide ready access to hand sanitizer and regular common workspace cleaning. The rules range from appropriate personal protective equipment to sanitation, social distancin[...]

Jan 26, 2021

$29.6M state grants to expand broadband in 11 localities

Nearly $30 million in Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grants will be disbursed among five projects to expand broadband access in 11 localities in the Northern Neck, Southwest and Southern Virginia and Botetourt County, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The projects will connect more than 11,700 households, businesses and institutions to high-speed internet. VATI provides funding [[...]

Jan 19, 2021

Northam calls FEMA denial ‘a slap in the face’

In a tweet Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam decried the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of federal funding for the Virginia National Guard presence at the U.S. Capitol as a “slap in the face” by President Donald Trump. “Virginia was there to defend the U.S. Capitol on January 6 — and we are committed to ensuring […]

Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield County (left) and Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
Jan 18, 2021

Facing her own censure, Chase plans resolution to censure Lucas

As state Democrats seek to censure her for participating in the Jan. 6 pro-Trump rally that preceded the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, state Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield County, said she planned to file a resolution Monday to censure Democratic colleague Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, for taking part in a social justice protest last […]

Jan 16, 2021

State anticipates fewer COVID vaccine doses due to U.S. shortfall

Virginia public health officials said Saturday that the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses sent to the state is likely to decrease — possibly by a significant amount — because the federal government does not have the reserve of doses it had said were being held back for second shots. Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine […]

Photo courtesy Office of the Attorney General
Jan 15, 2021

Shenandoah County distillery faces environmental violation charges

Maurertown-based Filibuster Distillery LLC and its co-founder, Sid Dilawri, have been indicted on 115 counts of violating State Water Control laws by allegedly dumping more than 40,000 gallons of industrial waste into a Shenandoah County stream, according to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. The Shenandoah County distillery, Filibuster Barrels LLC and Dilawri were […]

Jan 14, 2021

Northam warns extremists with “ill intent” to avoid Richmond

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a warning to anyone “with ill intent in your heart” to abandon their plans to come to Richmond as part of an armed protest of the state legislature. The governor said the state government is prepared for security concerns around the General Assembly’s annual […]

Jan 14, 2021

State opens COVID-19 vaccinations for Virginians 65 and older

Updated Jan. 18: A vaccine dose shortfall in the federal stockpile will likely lower the weekly number of doses Virginia receives, but state officials say they will continue with expansion of group 1b. Earlier:  As part of a federal push to speed up the pace of vaccinations, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday that the state […]

Jan 13, 2021

Va. General Fund revenue increased 15.1% in December 2020

Virginia’s General Fund revenue for December 2020 increased 15.1% compared with December 2019, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. Total revenue collections rose 7.8% through December on a fiscal year-to-date basis, which was well ahead of the 1.2% growth forecast. The increase was driven by growth in payroll withholding, corporate income tax, sales and use taxes, […]

Del. Luke Torian will lead the newly organized Virginia Minority Business Commission.
Jan 8, 2021

Del. Torian elected chair of Virginia Minority Business Commission

Del. Luke Torian has been elected chair of the newly organized Virginia Minority Business Commission at its inaugural meeting on Thursday. The commission was created by the 2020-2022 biennial state budget to promote growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses in Virginia and evaluate best practices to expand minority business ownership. “This commission’s objectives will be [&h[...]

Liberty University is claiming that grant changes discriminate against online learners.
Jan 8, 2021

Liberty University sues state over tuition assistance cut for online students

Liberty University, the large, private nonprofit Christian school in Lynchburg, has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ralph Northam and the director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), alleging that amendments to the 2020 state budget “wrongly exclude Virginia students who access higher education through online content” from receiving the Virginia Tuition […]

Jan 8, 2021

Sen. Amanda Chase ‘will absolutely not resign’

UPDATED 4:40 P.M., JAN. 8 Virginia Senate Democrats called Friday for the resignation of Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase, who spoke at the pro-Trump demonstration in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that turned violent and led to a breach of the U.S. Capitol, but Chase says she “absolutely” will not leave her office. Facebook placed restrictions […]

YOUR NEWS.
YOUR INBOX.
DAILY.

By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy.